Lee Howey was inspired to write this book after reading the autobiographies of other footballers. These were household names with glory-laden careers whose exploits on the pitch will never be forgotten. Yet, despite access to such fabulous raw material, they have mostly produced bloody awful books - predictable, plodding, repetitive, self-important and just plain boring. They may have been better footballers than Howey, but he has written the most entertaining football memoir you are ever likely to read. Not that Lee Howey's football career is in any way undistinguished. He won the First Division Championship with his beloved Sunderland in 1995 and played in the Premier League against some of the most celebrated names in English football, including Jurgen Klinsmann, Ryan Giggs, Eric Cantona, Gianfranco Zola, Peter Schmeichel, Ian Wright, Alan Shearer and Fabrizio Ravanelli - and not always unsuccessfully. It wasn't all assaults upon the kneecaps on wet Tuesday nights in Hartlepool (though there is plenty of that too). This honest, thoughtful and hilarious book may not end with an unforgettable game at Wembley, or a 100th England cap. However, it will amuse and delight fans of all teams in its portrait of the game of football before it disappeared up its own backside.

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Review

I have known Lee Howey since I joined Sunderland in 1996. As a footballer I never knew him to do anything other than give his all. Regardless of how much possession of the ball he had, you always knew when he was on the pitch. This is something that became apparent to me, particularly in the area of my calves, the first time I faced him in training. Come to think of it, I ve never really liked him. --Niall Quinn

Lee has written a wonderful book and, for the years 1993 97 at least, I can confirm that everything in it is true. The only exceptions to this are any sections where my name is mentioned. Apart from bits where I score a great goal or something, I deny everything; especially stuff about... well never mind. No one said this quote had to be long and I still want paying. -- Kevin Ball

Lee has produced one of the best football memoirs I ve read in many a year. I m delighted he s finally found something that he s good at. --Gary Bennett

About the Author

Lee Howey is a former professional footballer who played for Ipswich, Burnley, Northampton, Bishop Auckland and, most significantly, his hometown club Sunderland. He now works in financial services.

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This is a brilliant memoir by an English Footballer (soccer player) who had the good fortune to play for his (and my) hometown club. This isn’t an autobiography in the strictest sense of the word, more of a series of incidents on and off the pitch in the career of a guy who played at every level, from non-league to Premier League. I had the good fortune to meet Lee, and something he said will resonate with me for a long time: “We’re the same age, right, and follow the same team - so your memories are the same as my memories in that regard. It doesn’t matter which side of the line you’re on, they’re still memories”. The book bears that sentiment out, and brought back some fantastic memories for me of following my team around the country in years gone by. He also answers the question ‘What is it like to score a goal’, in a way that will please so many of us that were never good enough to make the grade. He advises the reader to think of the goal you watched live that brought about the most intense pleasure and celebration (in my case Gordon Armstrong against Chelsea or Jermaine Defoe OBE against Newcastle). Scoring a goal, and the celebrations that go with it aren’t too different to that feeling - players are fans too.

Lee Howey came to my attention about 1995, Charlton V Sunderland and it was noted he was the brother of the Newcastle defender Steve (A defender who complemented Darren Peacock well) I remember him being big and slow but that was par for the course for most centre forwards or centre halves in those days! The song Sunderland fans kept singing and I can't remember of it was this game or another sounded like the direct line advert and got progressively louder and easier to understand. Once I clicked, I decided Lee Howey was ok

This is obviously purposely written a certain way, Lee Howey is a humorous bloke and I agree with the shtick from the synopsis, it isn't your usual dull footballers autobiography which send glass eyes to sleep. This one features some amusing tales of a lot of footballers anyone subjected to tier 2 football in the 90s will be aware of and I'm glad it wasn't only Carl Leaburn who thumped that hairy fairy John De Wolf

This book finished a bit quickly for my liking and while I understand the diplomacy shown when speaking about his brother my curiosity was spiked and the nosiness in me wanted him to let rip and tell me why they don't talk.

I really enjoyable book that had me laughing out loud from the start to about three-quarters the way though. The last quarter is quite sobering and deals with the end of the authors football career and aftermath.

The book deals with Lee Howey's football career in the 1990s, starting with him playing for non-League football clubs, reaching a peak with Sunderland in the Premier League and finally ending with non-League clubs.The book is full of witty stories of the everyday antics that footballers got up in the 1990s - some of it quite shocking.

You don't have to be a football nut to enjoy this book - I'm definately not one.

Reads very well and seems to be a genuine honest account. I recall being a young teenager in the Mainstand Paddocks watching a bemused Lee Howie figure out that song. This book is much more than that though, and has left me (as a Sunderland fan) which a boat load more respect for Lee as a player during his time at Sunderland, and a little regretful we didn’t see more.

I’d just started my own association with alcohol and watching football when Lee Howie signed for Sunderland so my own memory is blurred. Met him recently at a talk in at the stadium, he and other ex pros were sat on our table and he struck me as the most genuine. Thanks for the read, and the memories.

Lee Howdy was a tremendous player who have everything on the pitch, not a superstar or a household name. He can write a good book and it's a really good read if you are a football fan. Enjoyed the story and yes I sang the Lee Howdy song at Roke r Park. Happy days

It’s fair to say this book was written by someone who wouldn’t make the premier league nowadays and it’s all the better for it. Searingly honest and funny, a delightful tone throughout from someone you’d expect to lamp you rather than show literary talent. It’s not decidedly average but some of the content is massively violent. Good work fella.